HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has been honoured as a Community Contribution Certified Company for the seventh consecutive year. The recognition was conferred at the 2025 Community Contribution Recognition Day event in Seoul, where the company also received a Minister of Health and Welfare’s Commendation and the highest possible ‘S’ grade. This dual accolade underscores the sustained public value and consistent performance of its social responsibility programmes.

The certification itself is a rigorous evaluation administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. It involves a comprehensive review based on ESG Principles, spanning multiple evaluation areas and numerous detailed indicators. In the latest assessment, the company excelled particularly in environmental management, earning recognition for its robust sustainability and carbon-neutral practices. Its diverse community initiatives, which are developed through long-term regional partnerships and extensive employee volunteerism, were also highly commended for building a stable and effective collaborative framework with local communities.

This ongoing commitment has been strategically reinforced following the establishment of the HS Hyosung Group in 2024. Under the new slogan ‘Value, Together’, the company has redefined its approach to social contribution. Its efforts are now organised around three core pillars: providing support for vulnerable groups, fostering the advancement of local communities and culture and promoting eco-friendly initiatives.

H S CHO, Vice Chairman, HS HYOSUNG, said, “Receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare’s Commendation and the highest ‘S’ grade is the result of our longstanding commitment to putting ‘Value, Together’ into action within our communities. We will continue to carry out diverse social contribution initiatives as a responsible company that grows together with local communities.”

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched the Vredestein Perfect Tour+, a new urban bicycle tyre designed for reliability across diverse conditions. Engineered for daily commutes and longer tours, this tyre accommodates both traditional and electric bicycles, including higher-speed pedelec models, as confirmed by its full ECE R75 certification. This ensures its capability to handle increased loads and velocities while maintaining safety and comfort.

A key focus of the design is enhanced durability, achieved through a robust 5-mm puncture-protection layer. This reinforcement substantially diminishes the likelihood of flats from road hazards. For consistent performance in varied weather, the tyre utilises a specialised Optimum Silica Processing (OSP) compound. This technology provides secure grip on wet, slippery or snowy surfaces by improving the bond between silica and rubber, offering reliable traction even in colder temperatures.

Further contributing to its all-weather performance is a refined V-shaped tread pattern, which promotes stable roadholding without sacrificing efficiency. This design works to reduce rolling resistance, facilitating smoother and faster rides. The Vredestein Perfect Tour+ will be available from March in multiple sizes commonly used for touring and commuting, such as 50-559 and several 622 diameter options.

Nic Knippers, Divisional Head – Vredestein Two Wheel Tyres, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “The Perfect Tour+ continues our long tradition of developing touring products that combine safety, durability and reliable everyday performance. With its upgraded protection and advanced compound technology, it provides riders with even more worry-free kilometres of riding, whether they’re commuting or touring, and is fully able to harness the enhanced torque delivered by e-bikes and speed pedelecs.”

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Cabot Corporation has completed the acquisition of Mexico Carbon Manufacturing S.A. de C.V. from Bridgestone Corporation, following regulatory approvals, the US-based materials group said on Monday.

The transaction, first announced in August, brings the Mexican carbon black producer, known as MXCB, into Cabot’s global manufacturing network. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cabot has long supplied reinforcing carbon products to Bridgestone, and said the acquisition would further strengthen the relationship between the two companies.

The MXCB facility is located near Cabot’s existing site in Altamira, Mexico. Cabot said the addition would expand its production capacity, improve operational flexibility and allow the manufacture of a wider range of reinforcing carbon products to serve customer demand and future growth.

Sean Keohane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cabot Corporation, said the acquisition marked “a significant step forward” in the company’s strategy to grow its core businesses.

“By adding the MXCB facility to our global network, we are expanding our manufacturing capabilities, enhancing supply reliability for our customers, and positioning Cabot for long-term success,” Keohane said. “We are excited to welcome the MXCB team to Cabot and look forward to building on our strong partnership with Bridgestone as we continue to deliver industry-leading reinforcing solutions around the world.”

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Hankook’s iON Race tyre played a defining role in the unpredictable third round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Miami. For this event, a new bespoke circuit configuration at the Miami International Autodrome presented fresh challenges with its temporary, non-uniform surface. These demands were intensified by a historic first: a wet-weather Miami E-Prix. As grip levels shifted dramatically from the initial safety car period onward, the tyre’s predictable warm-up behaviour and controlled thermal characteristics provided teams with a stable platform. This consistency was vital for managing the evolving conditions, allowing for strategic adaptation without sacrificing balance or race-long efficiency.

The race itself unfolded as a closely fought contest, ultimately won by Jaguar TCS Racing's Mitch Evans, who strengthened his championship position. Beyond supplying crucial performance on-track, Hankook engaged directly with the festival atmosphere of the Formula E weekend. The brand operated a dedicated Fan Village where attendees could explore the iON road tyre range and interact with displays highlighting Hankook’s philosophy and advancements in EV-specific tyre technology.

This Miami round, with its unique configuration and variable weather, served as a valuable proving ground. The insights gained from the iON Race tyre’s performance under such distinct pressures directly contribute to the ongoing development of Hankook’s broader electric vehicle tyre portfolio. With the Miami chapter complete, the championship's focus now shifts to the contrasting high-speed challenge of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia.

Manfred Sandbichler, Senior Director, Hankook Motorsport, said, “Miami was a strong example of how important predictable tyre behaviour is on a newly introduced Formula E layout at an iconic venue. As grip levels evolved throughout the weekend, the iON Race delivered the stability and consistency required to support competitive racing under changing conditions.”

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King Willem-Alexander inaugurated what Circtec calls Europe’s largest and most advanced chemical recycling facility for end-of-life tyres, marking the start of operations at the company’s Delfzijl plant in the Netherlands’ northern chemical cluster.

The facility, whose investment was announced in May 2024, has completed construction and commissioning of its first phase and is now processing 50,000 tonnes of waste tyres a year. During the ceremony, the King symbolically began operations by feeding tyre material into Circtec’s proprietary CIFR pyrolysis reactor. The event was attended by the Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth, along with the British Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Circtec’s technology converts discarded tyres into a slate of products including a marine fuel marketed as HUPA, circular naphtha for use in plastics and chemicals and recovered carbon black for reuse in tyres, rubber and plastics. The plant can also supply tyre pyrolysis oil to petrochemical and refining customers as a lower-carbon feedstock.

The Delfzijl project follows more than 15 years of technology and product development by the company. At current capacity, the plant is expected to process roughly 6 percent of Europe’s annual waste tyre stream. More than half of Europe’s end-of-life tyres are still burned in cement kilns or exported to Asia for disposal, according to Circtec.

An ISO-standard life cycle assessment commissioned by the company indicates the plant could cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to about 3 percent of the Dutch chemical industry’s national emissions once the site reaches full scale.

Circtec plans to begin construction of a second phase later this year, expanding capacity in modules to a total of 200,000 tonnes of tyres a year.

The company has secured long-term offtake agreements for its entire output. Birla Carbon will take the recovered carbon black for its Continua de-carbonisation product line, while British Petroleum has contracted volumes of the marine fuel, circular naphtha and tyre pyrolysis oil.

The project is backed by Novo Holdings and A.P. Moller Holding, which closed a Euro 150 million funding round for Circtec in 2024. The company is planning additional plants globally, both as owner-operator projects and through joint-venture licensing.

During the visit, the King toured the facility and met employees as well as representatives from British Petroleum, Birla Carbon and Dutch tyre recycling body RecyBEM. Discussions also involved local and regional authorities on the plant’s economic and environmental role in the Groningen region.

Commenting on the occassion, Circtec Chief Executive Officer Allen Timpany said, “Circtec now moves forward to operate the first phase of this plant and to expand it to its full designed and permitted size. Let us work together to scale this success further. So that this plant may inspire others, here in the Netherlands and far beyond, to rethink waste, reimagine value, and to keep moving forward, tenaciously, innovatively, and with strategic vision toward a sustainable and resilient industrial future”.

Speaking during the inaugural ceremony, Netherlands Deputy Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans said, "What we see here at Circtec is Green Growth at its best. Every year, 180,000 tonnes of used car tyres will be given a second life as a high-quality raw material. That is circular economy on an industrial scale. This factory shows that we can and want to become more sustainable in the Netherlands and dare to build new, future-proof industry. Good for our climate, good for our economy and good for the earning capacity of the Netherlands."

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